A "King" pickup would give ABC a well-known franchise to help bolster "Goode's" chances. It's a defacto network scheduling rule, learned at Fox through years of trial and error, that animated half-hours fit best with other animated half-hours.

Fox's decision not to order any new episodes of "King," meanwhile, came just three days before the animated laffer posted its best ratings in a year, averaging a 4.3 rating and 10 share among adults 18-49 on Sunday night.

Still, network insiders said Fox won't likely change its mind on the "King" cancellation. Net is looking to freshen up its animated stable, and after 260 episodes, believed "King" was ready for retirement. Read more on the drama via Variety.